As you can see from the picture above, one person can cast a huge shadow on the world! What kind of shadow would you make? As we study the world, we will constantly question how we can make a positive difference in our world. What are some other big ideas or questions we should ponder?
Our two major goals for this class are simple. I want you to look at the world around you, near and far, as a geographer would. We look at the world using the following five themes: location, place, movement, region, and human-environment interaction. The best way to see the world is to use the amazing tools available to us in the 21st century. In this class, we will learn effective and safe ways to use technology to study the world.
Expectations
I expect my students to:
come to class ready to learn
have an open mind
be a teacher as much as a learner
take chances
make mistakes
ask for help
Project Based Learning
This class is project based, meaning that we use authentic assessments to learn the material, instead of tests. Each unit will include a quiz or two, and a project that pushes students to learn in a new way. Project examples are included on this site and include skills such as writing, research, collaboration, presentation and innovation. Students are given clear rubrics at the beginning of each project with guidelines.
Internet Safety
Since we use so many Internet tools in this class, part of the hidden curriculum is teaching students how to have a safe and positive digital footprint. They are at an age when they are starting to use the Internet and need clear guidance about how to use and manage the barrage of information online. Students will get the chance to use technology tools, such as blogs, wikis and social bookmarking sites, to share and collaborate with the world, all with constant feedback and monitoring by the teacher.
Essential Questions
As you can see from the picture above, one person can cast a huge shadow on the world! What kind of shadow would you make? As we study the world, we will constantly question how we can make a positive difference in our world. What are some other big ideas or questions we should ponder?
Table of Contents
Class Goals
Our two major goals for this class are simple. I want you to look at the world around you, near and far, as a geographer would. We look at the world using the following five themes: location, place, movement, region, and human-environment interaction. The best way to see the world is to use the amazing tools available to us in the 21st century. In this class, we will learn effective and safe ways to use technology to study the world.
Expectations
I expect my students to:Project Based Learning
This class is project based, meaning that we use authentic assessments to learn the material, instead of tests. Each unit will include a quiz or two, and a project that pushes students to learn in a new way. Project examples are included on this site and include skills such as writing, research, collaboration, presentation and innovation. Students are given clear rubrics at the beginning of each project with guidelines.Internet Safety
Since we use so many Internet tools in this class, part of the hidden curriculum is teaching students how to have a safe and positive digital footprint. They are at an age when they are starting to use the Internet and need clear guidance about how to use and manage the barrage of information online. Students will get the chance to use technology tools, such as blogs, wikis and social bookmarking sites, to share and collaborate with the world, all with constant feedback and monitoring by the teacher.